Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Am gradually mastering my
enemy. It has just chimed 9pm & I propose going to bed when I written this
diary up.

Yesterday I felt rough.
Weather was much improved. The violent winds had dropped & at times it was
most pleasant.

Took my car to Stewart &
Arden for service & spent an hour in Ilford waiting for it. Walked round to
Harrison & Gibson’s Furniture Store, a fine display.

After lunch & a rest I
went to B’m & met the Archt’t & builder. Things are going forward spent
a couple of hours there. Called on Mr Hartley on way home. He is most helpful –
gave me names of lay-readers for Paslow C Services. They feel better for their
holiday.

Monday, 25 August 2014

Was off to B’m before 8.30.
Called at Ongar Hosp & altho’ Matron thought Mrs Jopson was getting more
use of her limbs, to me she seemed much worse.

We had a good morning service.
Eighteen to H.C. After service called on Miss Huddleston, the Jopson’s, the
Searle’s & Miss Thomas. Met Ruby Argent at the latter’s home. Then home for lunch where I am awaiting it
& feeling hungry.

It was a wild night &
galey today. Twigs & boughs on all the country roads & I hear the
rather poor fruit harvest is suffering badly. The ground is covered with
windfalls. Mins has just come in so off we go for lunch.

Wednesday, 20 August 2014

[…] Worked at home until 10o’c
& then went to the bank in Wdfd. The purchase money for 3 Firs Walk has
come through so we have put £2000 on deposit. £1200 odd in the Abbey National
& are leaving the rest on current a/c.

[…] Went to Branch the
printers for some prints of St Laurence’s interior. Hope to have them by the
week-end. Went to Mother’s & found Roy busy reconstructing the scullery.
Looks as though he’ll make a good job of it.

Next to B’m where I found good
progress at the house. Called on Sylvia Searle – a cripple of delightful
character, on Mrs Jopson & the Hartleys. Nobody at home of the last named.
Home for late tea after which a couple of letters before washing the car.

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

How quickly the time slips by.
Saturday saw H busy about her business in the am and I at my desk. […] Marjorie
Shorey has changed her car – another Ford “Prefect”. A 1956 model but looks
good.

Sunday was encouraging. H came
w me both am & eve. There were 17 out in the am & 15 took Communion. We
called on Miss Thomas at Paslow Common & learned that it was her birthday.
As Miss G was out & M had in invite for tea we were on our own &
enjoyed it. H forgot her door key in the am & I had to get in thro’ kitchen
window on our return from church.

There were about 35 out in the
evening. […] Felt free & believe God blessed the preaching. […]

We were all together for
supper. Miss G brought half a birthday cake of which we all partook.

Went to B’m first thing this
am. Found the plumbers busy. Still looks doubtful if we will be in by the 18th
Sept. Called on Miss Thomas & promised her the hymns & psalms in
advance for Sept. Called also on Mr Wood, Miss Loker & Canon Gallop. The
latter gave me the block of the pc interior of St Laurence’s Ch. I want to get
some more pc’s printed. Saw Willie Emmett in the village. He has promised to
speak to the other boys about joining the choir.

Was back for lunch & a
busy pm at my desk. Dick Browning phoned asking me to take a Quiet Afternoon
with his S. S. Teachers. Have promised to do so on 7th Sept. After
tea continued at my desk & prepared an expenses statement for the Inspector
of Taxes.

Saturday, 16 August 2014

Another day has sped its way.
H feels an emotional strain living opposite her old home & seeing people go
in & out. However she has been very courageous & I have admired her
spirit in what must be trying circumstances for any house-wife let alone one of
H’s age.

Whilst H stayed at home this
am I went to B’m. Called at Ongar Hosp
to see Mrs Jopson. She is making good progress tho’ still seriously ill. She
appreciated my call & the flowers I took were, she said, her favourites.

Found nobody working at the
house. Called on Miss Thomas re Paslow
services, on the Simmons & the Woods. Anne S showed me her engagement ring.
Roy Horsnell is her fiancé. Was home for 1o’c lunch.

Had a good sleep this pm &
then to work in my temporary study. After tea to work again & at 8o’c H
& I walked round to Joyce Stunt’s where we stayed for an hour.

Tonight’s radio told of a man
being charged at Woodford with the criminal assault & murder of a boy of
seven on Saturday last. Poor child & poor murderer. What processes of
filthy lust led him to such degradation & what remorse gnaws at his
conscience now.

Thursday, 14 August 2014

These have been two very
trying days for my little wife & they have been busy enough for me too.

Since Monday, we have been
turning out, sorting, keeping & rejecting a hundred & one things.

I was on the go from 7am –
10.30pm yesterday with H almost as long. We moved over to Minnie’s & slept
there. It rained on & off all day.

This am H & I were both
over & No 3 by 7o’c. We hardly stopped for b’fast as the removal van turned
up before 9am. It proved too small & so part of our f’ture had to be left
behind. They were away by noon. It has been very wet today. Brightened up at
tea-time.

I went to Brentwood. Was
surprised to find that it is nearer here than is Blackmore by 2 – 3 miles.
Arranged for the transfer of my Barclays A/c from W’fd. Called on the removal
people & complained of its mismanagement of our removal & then went on
to B’m.

Attended the W.I. Exhibition.
Some very creditable entries. Found good progress in the house & picked up
a letter in the church. Delivered some jumble to Church Hse, W’stow.

[…] Phoned KD & learned
Sam Radley passed away this am. Learned at B’m that Mrs Jopson has been moved
to hospital & has made some progress.

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

We both slept soundly. I
turned out at 8o’c & went into H who couldn’t believe it was so late.

Took car into Stewart &
Arden Ilford for service & returned home to take up upstairs & landing
carpet. This pm collected car & went to B’m where I met Mr Insall, the
architect. His assistant, Mr Scarff had been at the church all day & Mr I
arrived at about 5o’c & I half an hour later.

Found good progress in the
house. Went along to the Jopson’s &
found Mrs J is just the same.

Mr Scarff found the church
most interesting & is making a report through Mr Insall. It will cost
several thousands of pounds but one can see it could be made very lovely.

Got home at about 9.30 after
bringing Mr Insall as far as Woodford Station. […]

Monday, 11 August 2014

H is v tired. Has stayed at
home all day. I have missed her company. It will be a good thing when we are
away from this house, with our furniture stored. I must try to get her away for
a few days.

The day has been a joy to me.
Took services at B’m & Paslow Common this am. Went into a Miss Tindall’s
house for coffee after H.C. at Paslow C. Home for lunch at 1o’c. This eve took Ev Pr at B’m. A nice number
out. Felt free & had an attentive congregation.

[…] Found Mrs Jopson had had a
stroke in Church at the close of the service. Tk her home & waited for the
Dr a lady. She said there might be another. Will call tomorrow.

Was home about 9.30pm. H had
gone to bed. Had supper & started reading Marcel’s book on infant baptism.

Sunday, 10 August 2014

It hasn’t been such a happy
day in some respects especially for my darling. I had been to B’m, taking
Annette with me where I found continued progress w the Vicarage. Minnie & H
were in the kitchen when I returned & when I spoke of the progress H was
scornful & sceptical. […] I do not sufficiently remember that my dear one
is twenty years older than I & that all the change & stress of present
events are far more trying to one past seventy than to one past fifty.

[…]

Was busy in my study after
2hrs sleep this pm. Finished preparing sermons for tomorrow & planned
services for tomorrow week. Called on Mother & Roy for half an hour this
eve. Roy is rebuilding the scullery to make a kitchenette & seems to be
doing well.

It was a year ago tomorrow
that I had a slight stroke. Thinking back on that experience & the sense of
impotence, the slurred speech & useless left arm & leg, I rejoice in
God’s goodness & my wonderful recovery. I shall never forget the courage of
dear H & all she did for me then.

Friday, 8 August 2014

Was astir by 7o’c. We were sitting to b’fast by 8o’c. Hope to
recommence my exercise tomorrow. As the Dr told me to keep from them for a week
I have done so but have missed them.

It has been another day of
sorting, clearing & packing. In destroying some old receipts I could not
help noticing how some things are two or three times as costly now as they were
when the war finished in 1945.

We had lunch at the Pantry
& enjoyed it. This eve we drove to B’m & found more progress at the
house. Also went with Miss Thomas to see the Mission Church at Paslow. Quite a
nice little place. I have to get speakers booked for Sept.

We went on to the Marriage’s
where a presculation was made to Canon Gallop. The worthy man was visibly
touched by the affectionate regard of the parishioners. The Marriage’s are
charming people with three lovely children, two boys and a girl. The boys have
the looks that should be the girls.

I shared with Mr M some ideas
for the Parish & promoting the work. He was interested & sounded
co-operative. We came away feeling cheered.

Wednesday, 6 August 2014

[…] Went to B’m after my rest
& left H at home. Saw Smith the builder & went to his brother’s pig
farm & slaughter house in the village. Visited Miss Huddleston, the
Emmetts, one of the pubs & the Rumbold’s.

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

This has been rather a lazy
day. […] Drove out into the Essex countryside & relaxed & took our tea
in a little by-lane. […] on our way home stopped to watch the planes at the
airfield near Passingford Bridge.

The names of those on the War
Memorial outside St Mary’s Church, High Ongar, have not, to my knowledge, been
published before online. This
transcription is produced 100 years to the day since Britain entered the Great
War.

On the front face:

To our / glorious dead / 1914
– 1918

And below:

1939 -1945

On the south face is recorded:

Pte. J E Argent, R. W. Kent Regt.

Pte. S J Bush, Essex Regt.

Sergt. J Crane, D.S.M., R.M.Fus.

Pte. H Clark, Essex Regt.

Pte. L W Cook, Essex Regt.

Cpl. T A Donovan, Norfolk Regt.

Sergt. A F Donovan, Norfolk Regt.

Pte. J Farr, Essex Regt.

L.Cpl. P Fincham, Essex Regt.

Pte. S S Fogg, Duke C.L.I.

Pioneer G A Hall, R.E.

Bombor. W King, R.F.A.

Pte. E Maynard, Linc. Regt.

Pte. H Maynard, R.W. Kent Regt.

Pte. Wal. Maynard, Essex Regt.

Pte Wm. Maynard, Lab. Corps.

Pte Com Owers, M.C. Corps

Seaman H C Pearce, Royal Navy

The names of the fallen of the
First World War continue on the north face of the Memorial thus:

Pte. F L Pennington, Essex Regt.

Pioneer H W Phillips,
R.E.

Sig. F T Ruscoe,
Essex Regt.

Sergt. T F Smith,
West Rifles

Pte. T A Saunders,
R. Sussex Regt.

Pte. F Saunders,
Essex Regt.

Pte. C Savill,
Bedf. Regt.

Pte. J Savill,
Bedf. Regt.

Pte. C Shepherd,
Essex Regt.

Pte.. H H Sitch,
R.A.S.C.

Pte. T Tadgell,
R.A.S.C.

Pte. A H Thomas,
V & L Regt.

Pte. H Wood,
Midsx. Rgt.

Pte. C W Wright,
Essex Regt.

Pte. F C Witham,
Essex Regt.

Sergt. R G Wood,
R.E.

L Cpl. C W Wye,
W V Regt.

Those who died in the Second
World War are commemorated on the base of the Memorial. On the south face:

Sunday, 3 August 2014

We got away after our rest at
about 3.30pm & after calling at B’m went on to Danbury. The Jameson’s have
a lovely home. He had evidently
prospered in business. We enjoyed sharing past & present experiences.
Walter’s wife comes from Norfolk & they have a charming daughter of
eighteen. Olive.

We were away in good time
& found the roads busier as was to be expected. I had prepared bread for
the Holy Com Service in place of wafers & nobody commented. We had 15 out
& 13 stopped to H.C. We had morning prayer up to the 3rd collect
& H.C. from the “invitation”. Mr Newson, People’s Warden, said it was quite
like old times to have M Pr again.

Called on the Rumbold family.
[…]

Marjorie Shorey came to B’m w
us in the eve. Miss Bellchamber, her sister & husband turned up &
several who were not there last week. Had about 50 present. Felt very free
& believe God honoured His word.

We were asked to coffee after
& H went to the wrong house. The husband received us kindly, the wife was
in bed with lumbago. No sign of coffee & after half an hour we moved off.
Outside H said she made a mistake: we ought to have gone next door. When we
arrived, the coffee was spoiled & so was the lady’s humour. We explained
& in due course & conversation we received fresh coffee & cake
& forgiveness. The last of which I was glad to see materialise. It was ten
o’c before we got away & 10.45 before we were home. Mins greeted us &
shared some small family gossip.

H & I felt we had had a
happy day in the Master’s service & look forward to our moving into the
Parish. Lord, do thy gracious work in my heart & mind & will that I may
prove a fit instrument in thy hand.

Have spent nearly all day
sorting & packing my books. Have almost finished. After tea drove to B’m.
The workmen are pressing on with the house now. All the upstairs rooms are
plaistered & ready to start downstairs. The Sub-contractor says the carpenter
is coming tomorrow & the painter next week.

Went to choir practice. Only
four, beside Mr Simmons & me but I, for one, enjoyed it. Had a tedious
journey home. A lot of traffic on the road doing a steady 30mph & running
more or less bonnet to tail. H has been busy clearing cupboards & was
tired. Looks like a nice day tomorrow.

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Blackmore Area Local History

I am a keen amateur local historian who has always lived in the CM4 postal district (Ingatestone and Blackmore).
I am currently running an interim blog for the Essex Society for Archaeology and History - see esah160.blogspot.co.uk - and have recently completed a Certificate in Local History at the University of Essex.
The purpose of this blog (which began in 2007) and partner website is simply to encourage everyone to consider, explore and learn about their local heritage and history. The Internet is a marvellous resource and enables people from around the corner and around the world to share.
Enjoy the journey of discovery.